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Ouchy eyeball - what gives? CoTH docs -

For about 5 days my left eyeball has been tender to pressure and kind of ouchy when I shift my gaze sharply or go suddenly from dim to bright light. Vision is fine, and Aleve seems to work fine. It's at its worst right when I wake up. Not agonizing, but this morning I almost couldn't stand to use my eyeliner pencil on my upper lid as the pressure was very uncomfortable. Took the Aleve and all was well a couple of hours later.

The eye is also slightly bloodshot when compared to the other one. Pupil etc. looks normal.

Have Googled it, and the best I can come up with is possibly a mild case of episcleritis, which usually resolves itself. Glaucoma apparently doesn't hurt unless you have a sudden severe increase in ocular pressure. I haven't had any blows to the head or anything that would make my eye hurt.

I have a physical scheduled in a week and was hoping to wait until then.

Yes, I WILL go sooner if it persists or suddenly gets worse. I am not relying on the net.

A doctor who does a physical--a GP or family doc--is not going to be able to really identify the source of eyeball pain. Get thee to an opthamologist NOW. If this has been going on for five days already and has not resolved, then it needs attention. You do not screw around with your eyeballs.

Have you had anything get into your eye? I had a scleral scratch that felt a lot like what you are describing. Pain if I squinched my eye closed, pain if I looked a certain way, bloodshot sclera. I know what cut my eye, but if you had something maybe blow in there, you may not have been aware of it. It's not quite as painful as a corneal scratch, but close.
Get it checked out.

If you're in Boston or the New England area, get yourself to the Mass Eye and Ear or to Tufts Medical Center; two of the best ophthalmological practices in the country. What you're describing actually sounds like anterior uveitis which is serious in and of itself. Episcleritis isn't as painful with movement or persistent. It could also be something more serious, like posterior scleritis. This can lead to a detached retina and damage to the optic nerve if not properly treated. As others have said, please don't fool around with your eyes. You need to see someone with access to a slit lamp; most optometrists don't have that kind of equipment, so it may mean an ER visit.

Nine out of ten times, you'll get it wrong...but it's that tenth time that you get it right that makes all the difference.

I never go to the doctor and have on more than one occasional walked around for weeks with something fractured before doing anything about it. I just had a corneal ulcer. Eyes are no joke. It's painful and you could lose your vision. Don't bother with a general practitioner, get a referral to the eye clinic near you. Good luck.